Stay Tuned: Behind the scenes at the dog Olympics

Melissa Crawley More Content Now

Tuesday

Jan 30, 2018 at 10:26 AM

In “Road to Westminster Dog Show,” Nat Geo Wild goes behind the scenes to reveal what it takes to make it to “the Olympics of dog sport.” The show follows dogs and their owners as they participate in various competitions, hoping to win enough points to qualify for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the premiere dog show in the United States. For dog enthusiasts and those who enjoy heartwarming stories about the bonds between people and their companion animals, the series is an entertaining look at the hard work and determination that go into pursuing a dream.

One of those dreamers is Remy whose dog Manly is the number one rated Portuguese Water Dog in the United States. This year is Manly’s last chance to make it to the “hallowed ground” of Westminster before he enjoys a well-earned retirement. Watching Manly at one of the season’s last shows, Remy paces the sidelines, as nervous as any parent watching his child compete. It’s a tough moment for Remy when Manly doesn’t win the title but he tries to stay upbeat, hopeful that the few remaining contests before Westminster yield better results.

Remy isn’t alone in his emotional reaction. The stakes are high for every featured dog owner, including Brandi, the owner and handler of a Chinese Crested named Donkey Kong. Brandi has shown dogs since she was 5-years-old and feels a strong connection to the sport. “When I’m in a dog show, I feel like I’m at home,” she says. Making it to Westminster with 21 ranked Donkey Kong is a fulltime job so for Brandi, those few minutes in the ring “are everything.”

Kim, along with her Miniature Pinscher, Portia, Becky and her Bichon Frise, Cricket and Emily who is an 11-year-old handler and owner of a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Bro, join Remy and Brandi as the featured owners in episode one. All of them share stories of how their dogs have impacted their lives. While each one hopes to make it to Madison Square Garden, where 21,000 people will watch their beloved pets, Westminster represents more than a chance to compete. Gail, the Communications Director of Westminster Kennel Club puts it this way: “Seeing a beautiful dog and handler in harmony, it’s a thing of art.”

The series offers a lot of footage to support the claim. Watching handlers lead their dogs around a ring, it’s easy to see the skill that’s required for a graceful display. The show’s narrator also gives an insider’s perspective on judging, noting that each dog is evaluated according to the standard of their breed. Combining information with the emotional highs and lows of owners, the episodes are both interesting and dramatic.

“The Road to Westminster Dog Show” offers a genuine depiction of those who devote their time, energy and resources to dog competitions. Like many series that follow a sport, it emphasizes the passion and determination required to win at the highest level. Add dogs to the story and the show is naturally irresistible.

“The Road to Westminster Dog Show” begins Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. EDT on Nat Geo Wild.— Melissa Crawley is the author of “Mr. Sorkin Goes to Washington: Shaping the President on Television’s ‘The West Wing.’” She has a Ph.D. in media studies and is a member of the Television Critics Association. To comment on Stay Tuned, email her at staytuned@outlook.com or follow her on Twitter at @MelissaCrawley.